Hot Keys not working properly

What do you mean by "hot keys".  Are you talking about the media control buttons for volume, play, rewind, etc.?  If so, did you reinstall media direct the correct way?

The hot keys I am refering to are: fn function keys, such as fn +the F10 key to open the CD drive and fn + F8 to switch from  LCD to CRT etc.

After you reinstalled the OS, did you install all the drivers in the correct order?  Does the keyboard pass all diagnostic tests?

I reinstallediwth the system disk that came with my computer. I am asuming that all was instaled correctly. The keyboard did pass all tests, however, in dvice manager the kyboard is listed as Microsoft Natural PS/2 keyboard. Is ther other drivers on the system disk that I am not aware of?

Does the system disk contain just the OS or did you get a disk that contains all the drivers and stuff (or is it some kind of image disk that just puts the factory image back on the hard disk)?  If you installed drivers manually after installing the OS off the disk, then you need to install them in a particular order.

 

Go to this address to identify the correct order for installing drivers:

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?c=us&docid=1A0C0937D62A8739E0401E0A55174744&l=en&s=gen 

That document is not available!

It anos disk that has the Dell imprint on it

Did you copy the entire URL correctly (it is on two lines.  Just mark both lines, copy, then paste into address bar of your browser)?  I just went there and checked that it is the correct page.  And I have no idea what your second reply means.

First of all, I apologize for the messy typing. I was in the middle of Lake Superior on a boat that was being bounced around by 30 MPH winds and 8ft. Seas.

My issue is: the Fn function keys are not working on this computer. These keys control, F8 CRT/LCD and F10 CD drive tray. The disk I mentioned is the System recovery disk provided by Dell with the computer.

The F8 key is the most important, I use this for presentations at work and for navionics while on the boat.

 

If the Fn key does not work on the keyboard, you might have to replace the keyboard entirely.  Replacement keyboards are quite cheap (about $25) and the procedure for replacement should be in the user manual (takes about 10-15 minutes).

The Fn keys worked fine until I reinstalled XP. At the present time if I use the F10 it will flip to theprevious application I was using. I suppose the first thing I should do is find out what keyboard isinstalled on this computer. I assume it is a 101/102 key natural as in most other applications. I have not been able to fiind any supportdownloads for this keyboard.

I don't think keyboards have any special driver.  However, if did not install the drivers like notebook system software and chipset drivers in the correct order, the symptoms could be quite weird, including, I guess, the keyboard not working correctly.

 

Go to this address to identify the correct order for installing drivers:

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?c=us&docid=1A0C0937D62A8739E0401E0A55174744&l=en&s=gen